Springtime in D.C. is ripe with ritual. Long frost thaws. Solo cups litter stoops. Cherry blossoms burst from buds along The Mall. Bald dudes in studded belts backflip from the stage at St. Stephens Church on 16th Street NW, that old haven of D.C. punk. That last scene is becoming a true rite of spring in the District; Damaged City—now in its fourth year—will again take over the old church this April.

The initial lineup, released today, is a banger. Under the guidance of organizers Chris Moore and Nick “Tape” Candela, Damaged City has become a magnet for international punk and hardcore bands that rarely play abroad. This year promises to be no different. Bands from no fewer than four continents will stomp and prowl the St. Stephens stage over the three day fest, April 8 – 10. Raw punk heroes Systematic Death will travel from Japan; Youth Avoiders and Stalled Minds will make the trip from France; The Pessimists and D.C.-via-São Paulo punks Sem Hastro will trek to D.C. from Brazil—the list goes on. Plus the usual bonkers slate of U.S. hardcore bands, including Boston’s Firewalker, who will play a potentially insane hardcore show at AdMo venue Songbyrd tonight.

No word on ticket sales yet, but expect more news, expanded lineups and what have you before the buds hit the trees. Full list of announced bands below:

Systematic Death (Japan)
The Avengers (California)
Sheer Mag (Pennsylvania)
Youth Avoiders (France)
Torsö (California)
Disguise (Ireland)
La Urss (Spain)
Obstruct (U.K.)
Blood Pressure (Pennsylvania)
The Goons (D.C.)
Eel (Pennsylvania)
Caught in a Crowd (Massachusetts)
Dame (Massachusetts)
Post Teens (Florida)
Rubbish (Florida)
Stalled Minds (France)
Busted Outlook (California)
The Pessimists (Brazil)
Sem Hastro (Brazil/U.S.)
Holders Scar (North Carolina)
Firing Squad (Virginia)
Protester (D.C.)
Depths of Reality (Massachusetts)
Firewalker (Massachusetts)
Drug Control (California)
Odd Man Out (Washington)
Collusion (D.C.)
Stand Off (D.C.)
Homosuperior (D.C.)
Radiation Risks (New York)
Bust Off (D.C.)
Kombat (D.C.)
Spite (D.C.)